The Weekend Song

This weekend, I had a five day weekend. FIVE. When it was finally time for me to go back to work, I was convinced I no longer had a job. (a girl can dream)  Things that made me happy this weekend:

-getting my hair dyed dark.. just how I like it.

-my favorite ice cream flavor of all time, Tillamook Mudslide.

-meeting Whitney's friend from England, Pam.

-playing with Kody, the puppy
-English chocolate. Divine. Normal Kit Kats no longer suffice..
-spending the day with Whitney and Pam.. going to Gardener Village and up Little Cottonwood Canyon
-listening to Pam's accent. :) I spoke with an accent to Jared for 20 minutes after being with her on Friday, just because it sounds so blasted cool. Haha.
-Fall leaves
-embarrassing Whitney at 7-11 by saying "Wowza!" to the the cashier :)
-Copper Hills Homecoming Game with all of Jared's friends
-snuggling baby Legend and making him smile
-dinner at Chili's & sharing divine desserts with Brian & Hilary
-staying up late & watching a movie with Jared
-a delicious Winder Farms BBQ dinner with the Witts (they split their Winder pancakes & bacon with us and we split our Winder steak & potatoes. Yum on all accounts.)
-a walk to the park & swinging
-playing games



I so (very much) look forward to this next weekend and I especially look forward to General Conference. I'm in need of some wisdom and direction and this is just the place to receive such things. :)

“If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer this conference, you will find it. If you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you.”

-President Henry B. Eyring

Happy Wednesday!

the good.

On Friday, I had 15 of my very best friends come over. Friends I have known for at least 8 years but most of them I've known around 17 years. Let's just say, they're more like family and I love them to the moon. We played games, ate (a lot) of food, and laughed our heads off around a campfire. When the party was over and the house looked more disastrous than it ever has, I thanked the Lord for the 15 blessings that had just come over. I don't know why He blessed me with them but, I do know they have each been a rock for me throughout my life and I'll be forever grateful I have them in my life.

On Saturday, I surprised Jared with a date to the Dew Tour. We watch BMX and had a lot of fun trying to get some cool videos and pictures. On Sunday, we made beef roast and homemade mashed potatoes and had friends come over to join us for dinner. Like I said, this weekend was full of wonderful, beautiful moments. I am so happy the Lord blesses us with moments like that. That is what life is all about, the good.. and the bad, it's makes the good that much sweeter. :)

I didn't take too many pictures at the party and I didn't get a picture of everyone. I really wish I would've gotten a group shot with everyone but, the sun was going down so we had to act fast! ;)

The Buhler's brought along their three girls and after dinner, we played in the park. :)

This is the best picture ever. Talk about a thrill! Haha!



yes, I do reward myself with ice cream..

weekend happy list (despite my pain and agony of a toothache)

going to lunch with my cousin Austin, Mom, and Aunt Deanne
going to Coldstone to reward myself for surviving another day of pain :) haha.
spending time with Whitney, laying on her bed and looking through her mission memories
going to a Bee's game on a double date
a lazy Saturday
soup and salad at Red Robin
going to the movies on a double date
a neighborhood BBQ
watching movies with Jared
my root canal!! (I can't believe this is on my happy list.)
rewarding myself with a strawberry cheesecake shake from Arctic Circle

& now for pictures..

 at the Bee's Game

watching the game :)

my first time making deviled-eggs. YUM.

Our neighbor, Jon, made delicious fried-green beans!

When a friend is house sitting a posh house in the Avenues..

You have a girls day with lunch & swimming. You admire the unique art and the art done by their children. You race noodles in the pool, like you did when you were little. You listen to music, feel like you're in the movies, and dance to "Life Could be a Dream".. :) 

Sundays

My favorite day of the week is Sunday.

Big breakfasts, going to church, family time, relaxing, delicious dinners, game nights.. and a full day with Jared.

Last Sunday was Whitney's Homecoming. She gave a wonderful talk in Sacrament Meeting and afterwords, we had delicious pancakes and parfaits while we reminisced about our elementary days, trying to see how much we could remember. We remembered polka dot art, spelling on our desks in shaving cream, celebrating the Jazz with Miss Snow, and our lunch seating chart. :)

Jared and I were able to spend the rest of the day at home, just the two of us. We had chicken tacos for dinner, took a long nap, and watched a movie. It was bliss and I'm already counting down for next weekend. Happy Wednesday!



Holi Festival of Colors

I had green hair for a few days after the Color Festival but, it was totally worth it! Every year at the Hindu Temple, there is a Festival of Colors with dancing and color throwing. :) This was such a fun day!



a girls weekend..

-Cafe Rio
-seeing Penny, Kristie, and ShayLee
-laughing & talking
-playing games
-Sara confusing me saying, "Jared loves to bath" with "Why not take a raft!"
-sleepover
-Kim's french toast
-getting ready in the same bathroom, like old days
-Penny's homecoming

I love these girls..

Buhlers, brownies, and babies

-having our friends, the Buhlers over for dinner
-sloppy joes and yummy potatoes
-making brownies with Little O
-snuggling with the twins
-Monsters Inc. & Chicken Run

The weekend song

-lunch with Aunt and Mom at my beloved Cafe Rio'

-flat tire

-grocery shopping with my mom because she was kind enough to drive me around to do my errands

-cleaning the house

-chicken pillows

-watching Overboard with friends, I love that movie..

-a relaxing Saturday

-watching one of my favorite movies, The Young Victoria

-breakfast and an inspirational movie before church
-lasagna at my parent's house

-playing games with friends

-Jared so kindly reminding me during church that my CTR ring has been to Hawaii but, I have not. (He took it with him when we very very first started dating and took the picture below.. Someday, he will take me... I hope!)

The Random Song

I love this time of year and the magic of Christmas. I am trying not to be overwhelmed but, I could use more hours in the day. Luckily I am leaving work 4 hours early tomorrow to do some much needed Christmas shopping and package sending! (yes, I am worried that they wont make it to England and Korea on time.. Yes, I am a procrastinator..)

I look forward to the fun things planned for the rest of December. Last night we went to a Voice Male concert with 5 couples, 10 of our closest neighbors. :) Our friends. We are so blessed to have found a whole neighborhood of some pretty wonderful people. I love our home and I love where we live.

I have been missing Sister Richmond something fierce lately. I can't believe I haven't seen her in 14 months. I was reading my happy list from the week she left and about our one tearless hug goodbye. She told me not to cry so, I didn't (against all odds). She comes home in about 4 months.. four. I can't believe it. I'm beyond excited and for some reason, just a bit nervous. However.. Mostly, thrilled!

Speaking of missing people.. I miss my friends. I sometimes long for the days of doing nothing together. Hiking in the mountains, going out for pizza after working out to a silly work out video, having Office parties, sitting around talking.. This is for you, my group. My loves. You know who you are. Come to me now and let's have fun. (after Christmas of course because, this is a busy time for all, you know)

I've been thinking a lot about the new year that is knocking on our door.
2011, I am excited for you to be here.
I am ready to take on new and challenging goals. I am ready to grow and become better. I hope you will bring with you some wonderul life changes and I know there will be hard times but, I promise to grow stronger.

If you've read this far, bless your heart. Random thoughts are sometimes needed and today, they were.

Happy Wednesday to you all. :)

Why yes, I am trying to catch up..

One Sunday after church, I had a friend come up to me and tell me that his wife had a great idea! Her idea was for me to throw a neighborhood Halloween Party. Others joined in and encouraged the thought, and if you know me.. you know I like to throw a party! It was too hard to resist.

So, I brain stormed, made lists, cooked, and sewed my Halloween costume with my dear aunt Dee Dee. I have been dreaming up my mummy costume for quite some time and despite a few little problems during the creation, I was very happy with the outcome. (Thanks again, auntie!)

I love Halloween.

(More Halloween posts coming..)

Oh, what a wonderful day

Yesterday was wonderful. Everything turned out so well and I can't believe everything came together like it did... and it all happened in three weeks. The Lord's hand was truly in this. All of this.

..and my goodness, did I cry grateful tears? Embarrassingly enough, yes.

I will miss working with Becky and Jill on this great project. But now, back to life. Back to cooking and being a better wife. Back to editing. Back to doing my hair. ;)

More posts to come.

Donations.

Hello friends,

A year and a half ago, Jared and I moved into our first house. We have absolutely loved living where we do. We love this house that is now our home and we have been truly blessed with the people we've met. We love the many wonderful neighbors and dear friends that we have found here.

A few months after moving in, we met our neighbors, Allen and Jill. They have become dear friends who we love very much. We quickly learned that they had been trying to have a baby for sometime and we have been praying for this to happen ever since.

Recently, they found out that without In Vitro Fertilization, they have a very slim chance of getting pregnant. So, this is the next path to venture on for our friends except, this path comes at a high cost. $12, 000.

There will be a yard sale fundraiser held for our friends on Saturday, November 6th.
(Location will be announced at a later date.) I write this to ask for donations of any kind to sell at the yard sale for Allen & Jill. If you have anything that you would be willing to donate, please let me know and I would be happy to pick it up from your house.

Thank you.

See Jill's blog about their journey here.

The Weekend Song

We stayed with friends, Rob & Mckenzie, in their family cabin and admired the most amazing yellow leaves, played games until the early hours of the morning, and slept in until the morning hours were almost over.

When we pulled out of Maple Lane, I wished we could stay the entire week. Oh, weekends are wonderful aren't they?